Process for application of chemicals on textile materials during the rejuvenation process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for application of chemicals on textile materials for removing surface chemicals and finishes from textile materials which comprises the following steps: reducing the textile materials to an appropriate size; applying a first catalyzed vapor to the textile materials at a predetermined temperature; penetrating the textile materials at a predetermined temperature; applying a second catalyzed vapor to the textile materials; blending the textile materials; applying a third catalyzed vapor to the textile materials in the one or more blending boxes and dwelling the fabric at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time; and applying a blast of cool air to the one or more blending boxes to stop chemical actions in the textile materials and then transporting the textile materials to next station for further deconstruction processing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for applying chemicals on textile materials to remove surface chemicals and finishes from said textile materials which comprises the following steps:
 (1) reducing the textile materials to an appropriate size; 
 (2) applying a first combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals to the textile materials at a predetermined temperature to cleanse and strengthen the textile materials; 
 (3) penetrating the textile materials at a predetermined temperature to initially break the surface bond of the textile materials so the combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals can begin to remove molecules of the surface chemicals and finishes from multi directions; 
 (4) applying a second combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals to the textile materials to further cleanse and strengthen the textile materials; 
 (5) blending the textile materials in one or more blending boxes; 
 (6) applying a third combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals to the textile materials in the one or more blending boxes and dwelling the fabric at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time in the one or more blending boxes; 
 (7) applying a blast of cool air to the one or more blending boxes to stop chemical actions in the textile materials and then transporting the textile materials to a subsequent station for further deconstruction processing. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein in step (2), the first combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals comprises a cellulase enzyme. 
     
     
       3. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (3), the textile materials are penetrated by means of two rotary drums having sleeves of industrials needles rotating counter clockwise. 
     
     
       4. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (4), the first combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals and the second combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals can be either identical or divergent. 
     
     
       5. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (5), blending is conducted by a delivery condenser positioned over the one or more blending boxes and moving from left to right to deposit the textile materials into the one or more blending boxes in a z-type pattern until the one or more blending boxes are filled. 
     
     
       6. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (6), the third combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals can be either identical or divergent from the second combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals. 
     
     
       7. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (6), the temperature in the one or more blending boxes is between 68 F and 120 F. 
     
     
       8. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein in step (6), the predetermined period of time is between 45 minutes to 24 hours. 
     
     
       9. The process as in  claim 1 , wherein the first combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals, the second combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals and the third combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals are each selected from the group consisting of enzymatic and organic chemicals which remove starches, silicone finishes, fabric softeners, repellents, flame retardants, permanent press finishes, foamers, defoamers and soil release agents; PCA (polycarboxylic acid), acrylic sizing agents, oiling waxes, silicone based lubricants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The process of  claim 2 , wherein the first combination of enzymatic and organic chemicals further comprises an organic surfactant, an organic acid, or an inorganic acid. 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 7 , wherein the textile is a cotton-rich fabric, and wherein the temperature in the one or more blending boxes is around 88° F.